Electronic devices with flexible displays

ABSTRACT

Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays and internal components. An internal component may be positioned under the flexible display. The internal component may be an output device such as a speaker that transmits sound through the flexible display or an actuator that deforms the display in a way that is sensed by a user. The internal component may also be a microphone or pressure sensor that receives sound or pressure information through the flexible display. Structural components may be used to permanently or temporarily deform the flexible display to provide tactile feedback to a user of the device.

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationNo. 61/454,894, filed Mar. 21, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This relates generally to flexible displays, and more particularly, toelectronic devices with flexible displays.

Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephonesare often provided with rigid displays made from rigid displaystructures. For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) may be formedfrom a stack of rigid display structures such as a thin-film transistorlayer with display pixels for providing visual feedback to a user, acolor filter layer for providing the display pixels with color, a touchscreen panel for gathering touch input from a user, and a cover glasslayer for protecting the display and internal components.

Conventional devices may also have input-output components such asbuttons, microphones, speakers, and other components. Openings arecommonly formed in the housing of a conventional device to accommodateoperation of these input-output components. For example, openings may beformed in a device housing to accommodate speaker and microphone portsand openings may be formed in a display cover glass layer to accommodatea speaker port and menu button.

The inclusion of these openings to accommodate input-output componentsmay not be desirable. For example, the presence of openings may beaesthetically unappealing, may raise the risk of damage fromenvironmental exposure, and may reduce the amount of active display areathat is available to display images for a user.

It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improvedelectronic devices.

SUMMARY

Electronic devices may be provided with flexible displays. The flexibledisplays may be composed of one or more flexible layers and may bemounted on top of or under a cover layer. For example, a flexibledisplay may be mounted on top of a rigid support member or may bemounted on the underside of a rigid cover layer.

Electronic devices may also be provided with user interface components(input-output components) such as buttons, microphones, speakers,piezoelectric actuators (for receiving electrical input from a user ortactile feedback to users), or other actuators such as vibrators,pressure sensors, and other components. These components may be mountedunder portions of a flexible display.

During operation of the electronic device, the flexibility of thedisplay may allow a user to interact with the component through thedisplay. For example, sound waves from a speaker or localized vibrationsfrom an actuator in an electronic device may pass through the flexibledisplay. The flexible display may also allow an internal microphone,pressure sensor, or force sensor (or other internal components) toreceive external input. For example, a user may deflect a flexibledisplay using a finger or other external object, barometric pressure maybe monitored through the flexible display, or sound waves may bereceived through the flexible display.

Components may receive input or may supply output through a physicallydeformed portion of the flexible display (e.g., a deformation thatoccurs when a user presses on the display to compress the component). Insome configurations, a portion of the flexible display may serve as amembrane that forms part of a microphone, speaker, pressure sensor, orother electronic component.

The ability of a user to compress a component such as a button switch bydeforming the flexible display may allow the area of a device availablefor visual display to be enlarged. For example, the active area of aflexible display may overlap a component such as a button or speaker.

If desired, a flexible display may be deformed by an internal componentto provide audio or tactile feedback to a user. For example, structuresinside an electronic device may be pressed against portions of aflexible display to temporarily create an outline for a virtualon-screen button or to temporarily create a grid of ridges that serve todelineate the locations of keys in a keyboard (keypad).

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with aflexible display and internal components in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an illustrative set of display layers that may beused to form a flexible display in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of an internal user interfacecomponent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of a button in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a portionof an illustrative electronic device in the vicinity of a button inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of an audio component in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a portionof an illustrative electronic device in the vicinity of an audiocomponent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of yet another embodiment of aportion of an illustrative electronic device in the vicinity of an audiocomponent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of an actuator such as a piezoelectricactuator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of an internal structural component inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of a combined internal interfacecomponent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of an illustrative electronicdevice with a flexible display and a combined internal interfacecomponent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of an illustrative electronicdevice with a flexible display and a combined internal interfacecomponent mounted to actuator stage in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of an internal structural componentmounted to an actuator stage in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device with a cover and an internal structural componentmounted to an actuator in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeelectronic device in the vicinity of a pressure sensor in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electronic device may be provided with a flexible display and userinterface components. User interface components may include buttons,switches, microphones, actuators such as solenoids, motors, andpiezoelectric actuators, connector ports, touch screens, proximitysensors and other components for accepting input from, or transmittinginformation to, a user or the surrounding environment.

Flexible displays may be formed from flexible layers such as a flexibledisplay layer (e.g., a flexible organic light-emitting diode array), aflexible touch-sensitive layer (e.g., a sheet of polymer with an arrayof transparent capacitor electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor), aflexible substrate layer, etc. These flexible layers may, if desired, becovered by a flexible or rigid cover layer (sometimes referred to as acover glass) or may be supported by a support structure (e.g., a rigidsupport structure on the underside of the flexible layers). Inelectronic devices with flexible displays that are covered by rigidcover layers, the cover layers may be provided with openings thatprovide access to the flexible layers of the display in the vicinity ofa user interface device. For example, a cover glass layer may have anopening that allows a button member to move relative to the cover glasslayer. As the button member moves within the opening, underlyingportions of the flexible display may be deformed (e.g., to allowactuation of an associated switch).

To maximize the area of the portion of the flexible display that isavailable for displaying visual information to the user, user interfacecomponents may be positioned behind, abutted against or integrated intothe flexible display. The deformable nature of the flexible display mayallow a user to interact with the user interface components(input-output components) by moving the display into contact with theuser interface components or by otherwise allowing the display tolocally flex (e.g., to allow sound to pass through the flexible displayor to allow a barometric pressure measurements of the exteriorenvironment to be made by an internal pressure sensor). If desired, aportion of the flexible display may form a membrane portion of anelectrical component. Components that may be provided with a membranethat is formed from a portion of a flexible display include microphones,laser microphones, pressure sensors, speakers, etc.

An illustrative electronic device of the type that may be provided witha flexible display is shown in FIG. 1. Electronic device 10 may be aportable electronic device or other suitable electronic device. Forexample, electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a somewhat smaller device such as a wrist-watch device,pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellulartelephone, a media player, etc.

Device 10 may include a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12, whichmay sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass,ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum,etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. Insome situations, parts of housing 12 may be formed from dielectric orother low-conductivity material. In other situations, housing 12 or atleast some of the structures that make up housing 12 may be formed frommetal elements.

Device 10 may have a flexible display such as flexible display 14.Flexible display 14 may be formed from multiple layers of material.These layers may include a touch sensor layer such as a layer on which apattern of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes or other suitabletransparent electrodes have been deposited to form a capacitive touchsensor array. These layers may also include a layer that contains anarray of display pixels. The touch sensor layer and the display layermay be formed using flexible sheets of polymer or other substrateshaving thicknesses of 10 microns to 0.5 mm or other suitable thicknesses(as an example).

The display pixel array may be, for example, an organic light-emittingdiode (OLED) array. Other types of flexible display pixel arrays mayalso be formed (e.g., electronic ink displays, etc.). The use of OLEDtechnology to form flexible display 14 is sometimes described herein asan example. This is, however, merely illustrative. Flexible display 14may be formed using any suitable flexible display technology. The use offlexible displays that are based on OLED technology is merelyillustrative.

In addition to these functional display layers (i.e., the OLED array andthe optional touch sensor array), display 14 may include one or morestructural layers. For example, display 14 may be covered with aflexible or rigid cover layer and/or may be mounted on a supportstructure (e.g., a rigid support). Layers of adhesive may be used inattaching flexible display layers to each other and may be used inmounting flexible display layers to rigid and flexible structurallayers.

In configurations for display 14 in which the cover layer for display 14is flexible, input-output components that rely on the presence offlexible layers may be mounted at any suitable location under thedisplay (e.g., along peripheral portions of the display, in a centralportion of the display, etc.). In configurations for display 14 in whichthe flexible layers are covered by a rigid cover glass layer or otherrigid cover layer, the rigid layer may be provided with one or moreopenings and the electronic components may be mounted under theopenings. For example, a rigid cover layer may have openings such as acircular opening 16 for button 17 and a speaker port opening such asspeaker port opening 18 (e.g., for an ear speaker for a user). Device 10may also have other openings (e.g., openings in display 14 and/orhousing 12 for accommodating volume buttons, ringer buttons, sleepbuttons, and other buttons, openings for an audio jack, data portconnectors, removable media slots, etc.).

In some embodiments, portions of flexible display 14 such as peripheralregions 20I may be inactive and portions of display 14 such asrectangular central portion 20A (bounded by dashed line 20) maycorrespond to the active part of display 14. In active display region20A, an array of image pixels may be used to present text and images toa user of device 10. In active region 20A, display 14 may include touchsensitive components for input and interaction with a user of device 10.If desired, regions such as regions 20I and 20A in FIG. 1 may both beprovided with display pixels (i.e., all or substantially all of theentire front planar surface of a device such as device 10 may be coveredwith display pixels).

Device 10 may, if desired, have internal user interface components suchas buttons 17 or speaker component 19 that occupy openings such asopenings 16 and 18 respectively in an optional rigid cover layer offlexible display 14. Buttons 17 may be based on dome switches or otherswitch circuitry. Buttons 17 may include button members that form pushbuttons (e.g., momentary buttons), slider switches, rocker switches,etc. Device 10 may include internal structural components such asstructural component 22 that add a raised structure to a portion offlexible display 14. Device 10 may include components such as interfacecomponents 24 and 26 that may be fully internal to device 10, but thatreceive input from the user or from the surrounding environment throughphysical interaction with flexible display 14. Interface components 22,24, and 26 may be positioned in active region 20A or inactive region 20Iof flexible display 14. Interface components 22, 24, and 26 may bepositioned separately from one another or may be commonly located toform a combined component with structural and internal features.Interface components 24 and 26 may be positioned underneath flexibledisplay 14 so that flexible display 14 must be deformed in order tocontact components 24 or 26 or, if desired may be positioned to remainin constant contact with flexible display 14.

An exploded perspective view of an illustrative display is shown in FIG.2. As shown in FIG. 2, flexible display 14 may be formed by stackingmultiple layers including flexible display layer 14A, touch-sensitivelayer 14B, and cover layer 14C. Flexible display 14 may also includeother layers of material such as adhesive layers, optical films, orother suitable layers. Flexible display layer 14A may include imagepixels formed form light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs),plasma cells, electronic ink elements, liquid crystal display (LCD)components, or other suitable image pixel structures compatible withflexible displays.

Touch-sensitive layer 14B may incorporate capacitive touch electrodessuch as horizontal transparent electrodes 32 and vertical transparentelectrodes 34. Touch-sensitive layer 14B may, in general, be configuredto detect the location of one or more touches or near touches ontouch-sensitive layer 14B based on capacitive, resistive, optical,acoustic, inductive, or mechanical measurements, or any phenomena thatcan be measured with respect to the occurrences of the one or moretouches or near touches in proximity to touch sensitive layer 14B.

Software and/or hardware may be used to process the measurements of thedetected touches to identify and track one or more gestures. A gesturemay correspond to stationary or non-stationary, single or multiple,touches or near touches on touch-sensitive layer 14B. A gesture may beperformed by moving one or more fingers or other objects in a particularmanner on touch-sensitive layer 14B such as tapping, pressing, rocking,scrubbing, twisting, changing orientation, pressing with varyingpressure and the like at essentially the same time, contiguously, orconsecutively. A gesture may be characterized by, but is not limited toa pinching, sliding, swiping, rotating, flexing, dragging, or tappingmotion between or with any other finger or fingers. A single gesture maybe performed with one or more hands, by one or more users, or anycombination thereof.

Cover layer 14C may be formed from plastic or glass (sometimes referredto as display cover glass) and may be flexible or rigid. If desired, theinterior surface of peripheral inactive portions 20I of cover layer 14Cmay be provided with an opaque masking layer on such as black ink.

Touch-sensitive flexible display section 14AB may be formed from displaypixel array layer 14A and optional touch sensor layer 14B.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of flexible display14 in the vicinity of internal user interface component 24. Flexibledisplay 14 may be deformed away from its natural shape under pressure.For example, flexible display 14 may be deflected by pressure exerted bya user or by other external forces in direction 40. As shown in FIG. 3,pressure in direction 40 may cause flexible display 40 to deform asindicated by dashed lines 44. Internal component 24 may be configured toreceive input due to deformation of flexible display 14. Internalcomponent 24 may also provide a temporary return (restoring) pressure indirection 42.

Pressure in direction 42 may cause flexible display 14 to temporarilydeform outward of device 10 as indicated by dashed lines 46. Pressure indirection 42 may, if desired, be formed by an internal actuator thatdeforms display 14 to provide a desired tactile sensation on the surfaceof display 14 to a user of device 10. Flexible display 14 may have anatural resiliency that, following deformation as indicated by dashedlines 44, causes flexible display to temporarily deform outward ofdevice 10 as indicated by dashed lines 46 before returning to itsnatural shape. Internal component 24 may be a button, an actuator suchas a motor, solenoid, vibrator, or piezoelectric actuator, a pressuresensor, an audio component such as a microphone or speaker, or othercomponent. Because display 14 is flexible, these components may operateeffectively, even when covered by display 14. For example, audiocomponents such as microphones and speakers may receive and transmitsound through flexible display 14. A barometric pressure sensor or aforce sensor may also receive input through flexible display 14.Components such as actuators may be used to temporarily create raisedridges or other external features on the surface of the flexible display(e.g., to indicate to a user where an on-screen button or group ofbuttons is located). The portion of display 14 under which components 24are mounted may be active (i.e., a portion of the display that containsOLED pixels or other display pixels) or inactive (i.e., a peripheralportion of the display outside of the active region).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of button 17 of device 10. As shown in FIG. 4, button 17 mayhave a button member such as button member 52 that reciprocates withinopening 16 of cover layer 14C. When a user presses the exterior ofbutton member 52 in direction 58, button member 52 may press againsttouch-sensitive flexible display section (layer) 14AB. Touch-sensitiveflexible display section 14AB may be deformed to depress a dome switchsuch as dome switch 56 or other switch mechanism, thereby activating theswitch (e.g., shorting internal switch terminals together to close theswitch). Dome switches such as dome switch 56 may, if desired, bemounted to printed circuits such as printed circuit 54. Dome switch 56may have a dome-shaped biasing member that pushes touch-sensitiveflexible display section 14AB outward in direction 60 when the userreleases pressure from button member 52. Dome switch 54 and printedcircuit 54 may be recessed in a support structure such as supportstructure 50 behind flexible display 14. Other types of switches mayused if desired, such as switches with spring-based biasing members orother biasing structures that bias button members such as button member52. The use of a dome switch with a dome-shaped biasing structure ismerely illustrative.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of button 17 of device 10. The illustrative embodiment of FIG.5 differs from the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 4 in that cover layer14C of flexible display 14 is not a rigid cover layer, but a flexiblecover layer. In an embodiment in which flexible display 14 contains aflexible cover layer 14C, button 17 includes dome switch 56 and printedcircuit 54. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a user may press the exteriorof flexible display 14 in direction 58. Flexible display 14 may bedeformed to depress dome switch 56 or other switch mechanism, therebyactivating the switch. As in FIG. 4, dome switches such as dome switch56 may, if desired, be mounted to printed circuits such as printedcircuit 54. Dome switch 56 may have a dome-shaped biasing member thatpushes flexible display 14 outward in direction 60 when the userreleases pressure from button member 52. Dome switch 54 and printedcircuit 54 may be mounted in support structures 50 behind flexibledisplay 14. Other types of switches may use spring-based biasing membersor other biasing structures to bias button members such as button member52. The use of a dome switch with a dome-shaped biasing structure ismerely illustrative.

Providing device 10 with flexible display 14 without the need for anopening in flexible display 14 to access button 17 allows flexibledisplay 14 to extend over button 17 without disruption. In both the FIG.4 and FIG. 5 configurations, the portion of the flexible display thatoverlaps the button may be an active display portion or an inactivedisplay portion. When an active display portion is configured so as tooverlap buttons and other components, there is generally more areaavailable for the active display portion. The presence of flexibledisplay 14 over button 17 (or other components) may also reduce the riskof moisture or dirt entering into the interior of device 10.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of audio component 19. Audio component 19 may be recessed in achassis 50 behind flexible display 14. Audio component 19 may be aspeaker for providing sound to a user of device 10 or a microphone forreceiving input from a user or the external environment. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 6, sound may be transmitted through flexibledisplay 14 to a microphone or from a speaker. The portion of flexibledisplay 14 that overlaps audio component 19 may be active or inactive.Arrangements in which component 19 is covered with part of the activearea of display 14 may allow the size of active region 20A of flexibledisplay 14 to be increased. The presence of flexible display 14 overaudio component 19 may also reduce the risk of moisture or dirt enteringinto the interior of device 10.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of another embodiment of audio component 19. In theillustrative embodiment of FIG. 7, audio component 19 may be a speakeror microphone that contains a diaphragm such as diaphragm 70. Diaphragm70 may be formed from a separate structure that is attached to theunderside of flexible display 14 or may be formed from a part offlexible display 14. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, audiocomponent 19 may be mounted within support structures 50. Audiocomponent 19 may include a magnet such as magnet 74 and a coil such ascoil 72 in which current may flow. If audio component 19 is a speaker,current may be driven through coil 72 to induce motion in diaphragm 70and thereby emit sound through flexible display 14. If audio component19 is a microphone, sound waves originating from the exterior of device10 may induce vibrations in flexible display 14 which are transmitted todiaphragm 70 and ultimately to coil 72 in which current may be induced.The current produced in coil 72 may be used to transmit soundinformation to device 10. Diaphragm 70 may be a separate member incontact with flexible display 14 or may be an integral part of flexibledisplay 14.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of another possible embodiment of audio component 19. As shownin FIG. 8, audio component 19 may be a laser microphone which usesvibrations in flexible display 14 induced by sound originating externalto device 10 to produce an signal to be transmitted to device 10. Asshown in FIG. 8, audio component 19 may be recessed in supportstructures 50. Audio component 19 may include a light emitting componentsuch as laser component 80. Laser component 80 may emit a laser beamsuch as laser beam 84 in the direction of flexible display 14. Laserbeam 84 may reflect off of flexible display 14 and a reflected laserbeam such as reflected laser beam 86 may be absorbed by a laserabsorbing component 82.

Laser beam 84 and reflected laser beam 86 may be used in combinationwith laser 80 and photosensitive element 82 to monitor variations indistance 88 from flexible display 14 to component 80 and component 82.Sound waves originating external to device 10 may induce vibrations inflexible display 14 causing distance 88 to oscillate. The oscillationsin distance 88 may be converted into sound-related information by device10.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of a component such as component 22 of FIG. 1. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 9, component 22 may contain an actuator such asa piezoelectric (actuator 90). Piezoelectric actuators such aspiezoelectric actuator 90 may vary in shape (e.g., thickness) inresponse to applied control voltages and may produce an output voltagewhen compressed (i.e., the piezoelectric element in actuator 90 mayserve as a force sensor in addition to serving as a controllableactuator). A user of device 10 may exert force on flexible display 14 indirection 92. Flexible display 14 may be deformed to exert a mechanicalpressure on piezoelectric element 90 or other force sensor, inducing avoltage which may be transmitted to device 10. Conversely, piezoelectricactuator 90 may be used to provide tactile feedback to a user of device10. A voltage difference applied to the surfaces of piezoelectricactuator 90 may induce an expansion of piezoelectric actuator 90.Piezoelectric actuator 90 may then deform flexible display 90 indirection 94 providing tactile feedback to a user of device 10.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of structural component 22 of device 10. Structural component22 may cause a permanent deformation such as deformation 102 in flexibledisplay 14 to indicate the location of portion 101 of touch-sensitivelayer 14B in display 14 to the user of device 10. Portion 101 may be,for example, a letter key or other button in a virtual keypad (keyboard)displayed on flexible display 14. A touch sensor array associated withdisplay 14 may be used to gather user input (i.e., the touch sensorarray may be used to determine when a user has pressed the virtual keyassociated with portion 101). The location of portion 101 may also beindicated visually using associated display pixels in flexible display14. At times, a user may desire to be able to locate portion 101 withouthaving to look at flexible display 14. Deforming flexible display 14 inthe vicinity of portion 101 using structural component 22 may allow auser to locate portion 101 without visual aid. Structural component 22may be an isolated component indicating the location of a single portion101 of touch-sensitive layer 14B or may be one of an array of components22 indicating the locations of an array of portions 101 (e.g., the arrayof letter, number, and symbol keys in a virtual keypad displayed ondisplay 14). Structural component 10 may be a separate component mountedto support structures 50 or may be an integral part of supportstructures 50.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of a hybrid component such as component 100. Component 100 mayinclude both an internal interface component such as internal component24 and a structural component such as structural component 22.Structural component 22 may cause a permanent deformation such asdeformation 102 in flexible display 14 in the vicinity of internalcomponent 24 to indicate the location of internal component 22 to theuser of device 10. The presence of flexible display 14 between the userof device 10 and internal component 24 may obscure the location ofinternal interface component 24. The location of interface component 24may be indicated visually using display pixels in flexible display 14.The deformation of flexible display 14 in the vicinity of interfacecomponent 24 using structural component 22 may also allow the user tolocate interface component 24 without visual aid. Component 100 may bean isolated component indicating the location of a single interfacecomponent 24 of touch-sensitive layer 14B or may be one of an array ofcomponents 100 indicating the locations of an array of interfacecomponents 24.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of device 10 in whichinternal component 24 is a button such as button 17. In the embodimentof FIG. 12, as in FIG. 11, component 100 includes internal component 24and structural component 22 (shown in FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 12, aridge or other deformation such as deformation 102 in flexible display14 may be used to indicate the location of button 17.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of another illustrative embodiment of a hybrid component suchas component 100 which includes an internal interface component such asinternal component 24 and a structural component such as structuralcomponent 22 mounted to an actuator such as actuator stage 110.Component 100 may be recessed in chassis 50. Actuator stage 110 may beelectrically or mechanically raised in direction 112 to temporarilyproduce deformations such as deformations 102 in flexible display 14.Deformations 102 in flexible display 14 may indicate the location ofinternal interface device 24 to a user of device 10. Actuator stage 110may be electrically or mechanically lowered in direction 114 to removedeformations 102 in flexible display 14 returning flexible display 14 toits original shape. Component 100 may be an isolated componentindicating the location of a single interface component 24 oftouch-sensitive layer 14B or may be one of an array of components 100indicating the locations of an array of respective interface components24.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of another illustrative embodiment of a component such asstructural component 22. In the arrangement of FIG. 14, structuralcomponent 22 is mounted an actuator such as actuator stage 110. Somemodes of operating device 10 may require visual interaction with a userof device 10 (e.g., a mode involving the display of images or video). Inthese visual modes, the location of portion 101 of touch-sensitive layer14B of flexible display 14 may be indicated visually using displaypixels in flexible display 14.

In other modes of operation of device 10, a user of device 10 may wishto determine the location of portion 101 without visual aid. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 14, component 22 may be recessed in supportstructures 50. Actuator stage 110 may be electrically or mechanicallyraised in direction 112 to move structural component 22 into contactwith flexible display 14 to temporarily produce deformations such asdeformations 102 in flexible display 14. Deformations 102 may indicatethe location of portion 101 to a user of device 10. When no longerneeded for tactile interaction (e.g., upon switching to a video displaymode), actuator 110 may be electrically or mechanically moved indirection 114 to lower structural component 22 and remove deformations102 in flexible display 14.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of device 10 inwhich device 10 includes housing 12 and cover member 122. Cover member122 may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal(e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or acombination of these materials. Cover member 122 may be a singlestructure or may include multiple cover structures. In order tofacilitate lifting of cover 122 by a user of device 10, structuralcomponent 22 may be coupled to an actuator 130 which may be used to liftstructural component 122 in direction 134. When lifted, structuralcomponent 134 may cause a deformation such as deformation 102 inflexible display 14. Flexible display 14 may exert a pressure on covermember 122, lifting cover member 122 in direction 134 allowing the userto grip cover member 122 in order to lift cover member 122 to an openposition such as open position 140. Actuator 130 may then be used tolower structural component 22 in direction 132 in order to allowflexible display 14 to return to its original shape. Actuator 130 may beactivated in response to a control signal produced by the user usingactuator switch 124 or by a control signal from other suitable controlcircuitry.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in thevicinity of another illustrative embodiment of internal interfacecomponent 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, interface component 24may be a pressure sensor that includes a pressure sensing module 140.Pressure sensing module 140 may be coupled between a contact member suchas contact member 142 (which is in contact with flexible display 14) andelectrical contacts 144. Pressure may be exerted on flexible display 14(e.g., by a user of device 10 or due to atmospheric pressure changes inthe surrounding environment of device 10). Pressure exerted on flexibledisplay 14 may be transmitted to pressure sensing module 140 by contactmember 142. Pressure information may be transmitted to device 10 throughelectrical contacts 144. Pressure sensing module 140 may sense pressurechanges using piezoelectric, capacitive, inductive, resistive, opticalor other mechanisms. Providing device 10 with flexible display 14 allowsflexible display 14 to extend over interface component 24, increasingthe area of active region 20A of flexible display 14. The presence offlexible display 14 over interface component 24 may also reduce the riskof moisture or dirt entering into the interior of device 10.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a flexibledisplay; and an internal component, wherein the flexible display isconfigured to be deformed by an action external to the device, whereindeformation of the flexible display creates a response from the internalcomponent when the deformation is aligned with the internal component,wherein the flexible display further comprises a rigid cover layerhaving at least one opening, wherein the rigid cover layer substantiallycovers the flexible display, and wherein the at least one opening isaligned with the internal component.
 2. The electronic device defined inclaim 1 wherein the flexible display comprises: a flexible displaylayer; and a touch-sensitive layer.
 3. The electronic device defined inclaim 2 wherein the flexible display layer of the flexible displayincludes an active display region, and wherein the internal component iscovered with a portion of the active display region of the flexibledisplay.
 4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein theinternal component comprises a button, and wherein deformation of theflexible display compresses the button.
 5. The electronic device definedin claim 4 wherein the opening comprises a hole in the rigid coverlayer, wherein the button further comprises a button member in theopening, wherein the button member moves within the hole in the rigidcover layer, and wherein the movement of the button member in theopening causes deformation of the flexible display.
 6. An electronicdevice, comprising: a flexible display; and an internal component,wherein the flexible display may be deformed by an action external tothe device, wherein deformation of the flexible display creates aresponse from the internal component, wherein the internal componentcomprises a laser microphone for detecting a sound originating externalto the electronic device, and wherein detecting the sound comprises witha laser, detecting deformation of the flexible display.
 7. An electronicdevice, comprising: a housing; a flexible display mounted on thehousing; a first internal component mounted under a portion of theflexible display, wherein the first internal component is configured todeform the portion of the flexible display; an actuator; an externalcover member; and an actuator switch coupled to the actuator, whereindeformation of the flexible display exerts a pressure on the externalcover member, and wherein the pressure on the external cover memberlifts the external cover member.
 8. The electronic device defined inclaim 7, wherein the external cover member comprises aluminum.
 9. Theelectronic device defined in claim 7, wherein when the external covermember is in an open position, the actuator is configured to move thefirst internal component out of contact with the flexible display.